by Mia Ford
Since I wasn’t even sure I could succeed with the hurdles I was aware of, I was even more dismayed by the thought of what I else I might come across.
Being a disappointment to her in the middle of nowhere, where she could easily forget me and move on seemed merciful. I didn’t want to be a disappointment to her out in the real world, where she was left with anything to explain.
Yet, I wanted to go with her. I wanted to be the person she seemed to think I could be. I wanted to emulate her strength and take whatever life threw at me like a champ, but she was the only person who ever seemed to believe I could be that way.
I thought about this throughout the time that the paramedics checked me over, while others attended to Carrie. I received some strange looks, but I understood.
After all, I did look like a wild mountain man. I wasn’t insecure enough take the oddity of my appearance to heart. I probably would look at myself strangely too if I were them.
Once we were both cleared, the rangers took us into separate parts of the station and took down our statements.
I wasn’t sure where to start, or exactly what they wanted to know, so I started from the beginning, telling them how I met Cassie, where I was living and what we were doing here at the ranger station.
Again, my responses were met with strange looks, but I took Carrie’s advice and told them the truth, whether they believed me or not.
Eventually, after conferring with one another, keeping us both in separate rooms, they allowed us to see one another again and the head ranger sat down across from us at his desk.
“I’m glad you two are alright. It’s such a shame, what happens to people up here in these mountains sometimes…” The ranger shook his head and pursed his lips, as though he was truly mourning someone in particular.
Carrie and I both agreed with the man.
“Is there traffic going back down the mountain?” I asked, “Someone told me over the radio that there was a mudslide and I just want Cassie to get to a hospital as soon as possible.”
“Yes, Sir, the mudslide has been taken care of and we are going to get you out of here as soon as possible, but considering your statements, I wanted to ask you a few questions, collectively.”
Carrie and I exchanged worried glances, unsure of what he would want out of our statements that couldn’t wait.
However, we agreed.
“Of course,” Carrie added after her nod.
“You both said you saw the man who attacked Carrie?” the ranger asked, getting out the pad and pencil he had used to take notes on previously.
“Yes, we did,” I answered for Carrie, taking a slightly more protective stance over her, in case something was about to happen where I would need to either shield her or get her out of here quickly, “Why?”
Sensing the tension, Carrie grabbed ahold of my arm, nervously.
“Well, I don’t mean to alarm you two,” the ranger answered, putting his hands up, as though trying to convey that he meant us no harm. “We believe the man was apprehended. It was earlier in the week…He tried to attack a woman a little closer to the normal trail and she got away. She identified him in a lineup and after doing a little digging, we found out that he recently purchased some distressing items from the local hardware store.”
“Did you find them?” I asked the ranger, starting to settle down slightly, but still not completely convinced that this conversation was going to end well.
“No, we haven’t. He didn’t have anything on him when we arrested him and, even though we found the receipt for the items in question, we didn’t find any of the items.”
“I think I know where you can find them. Were they a knife, duct tape, rope, and Diazepam?”
Now, it was the ranger who was a little taken back.
“I found a bag at the place where he and Carrie last set up camp, the night he attacked her.”
“Do you have the bag?”
“Hell, no. I didn’t want to be caught with a murder bag like that,” I insisted, but realizing that I probably shouldn’t be so blunt, I added in a more reserved tone, “But, if you want, I can point out where I found them on a map…or I can take you to it.” I shrugged, “The last time I saw it was a while ago, I can’t guarantee it’s still there, but I want it to be found.”
“You can pinpoint it on the map?” The ranger insisted, and I affirmed it with a nod.
With that, the man took out a map of the area and asked me to show him where it was. I circled the area, knowing exactly where the cabin was and using my knowledge of the surrounding mountainside to give an estimate that I was confident was accurate.
“In this clearing, you’ll find a broken tent and a tent that is still intact. Inside the tent that is intact, there should be the bag.”
“Thank you,” the ranger insisted, calling over one of the other rangers and asking them to check this area out right away.
After the other ranger left, with the map, his superior turned back to us.
“Hopefully, we’ll find the items on the receipt and that’ll be even more evidence against him,” he insisted, “But, for my initial questions…” he redirected the conversation quickly, “First, Carrie, I wanted to know if you wanted to press charges and I wanted to ask you both if you were willing to testify against the guide.”
“Wait, you caught him? He’s in jail?” Carrie seemed not only surprised, but relieved and kind of lost. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see any of that. He attacked me…He did use the Diazepam on me though, I think. He tried to give me something that knocked me out.”
“Did you tell the paramedics?”
Carrie nodded, “But, getting back to what you said, you caught him?”
Again, she seemed surprised and honestly, I couldn’t blame her.
Usually, what happens in the mountains stays in the mountains, unless there was an extremely good reason it wouldn’t, so it was an unlikely surprise to find out that he was caught.
The ranger nodded, “Now, the only reason I ask you this here, is so that when we get back down the mountain, you aren’t pressured into a decision. I want you to know that while he isn’t a danger to society anymore, you will have to be in the same room with him, while you testify and if you press charges, it might be a long process, but if you were willing to testify, at least, you would be getting justice for yourself, in addition to helping get justice for everyone and anyone he might have hurt in the past…and this could also prevent him from hurting anyone in the future.”
“Of course. Definitely,” Carrie insisted, now coming out from behind me fully for the first time.
“Yes, I would like to testify too. I want everyone to know what that bastard tried to do,” I insisted.
“Okay, then,” the ranger nodded as he tipped his hat and stood up, “Now that we’ve got all that unpleasant business out of the way, let’s get you two back to civilization.”
It was then that my stomach dropped. Instinctually, I looked at Carrie, who was staring back at me, with an odd expression.
I knew this was the time to decide, though I there were still so many factors floating around in my mind.
The conversation about the psycho guide had distracted me for a few moments but now that time had run out and I had to make a choice, I had wished that I had given it more thought.
Although, I doubted more thought was what I needed.
We must have stared at one another for a good minute, while the ranger looked between us, wondering what the issue was.
“Are you both okay?” The ranger finally asked, “Is there a problem?”
“He lives in the woods. In his grandfather’s cabin…” Carrie spoke up first, breaking the connection of our eyes to look at the ranger.
“Oh!” The ranger replied, though he still looked slightly confused as to why this was such a big decision, “Well, Sir, if you’d like to get a ride back to the cabin, I can definitely get someone to drive you back. That isn’t an issue. It explains why you know the mountain so well, th
ough.” The ranger insisted, looking me up and down now, as though he was attempting to figure out my story.
I know he didn’t trust me, but I didn’t blame him. I didn’t trust him either.
With that, Carrie returned her gaze to mine and grinned. I felt her hands clasp solidly around mine as she exclaimed, “Johnathan, remember what I said. I am willing to give you time. My door is always open. It’s always your decision. I am not going to force you into doing anything.”
It was with that comment, that I decided to finally take a leap of faith.
“No, thank you,” I told the ranger, “I’m going to go down the mountain with Carrie.” Afterward, I looked over to Carrie and beamed meaningfully, “We started this adventure together, and I trust that’s the way we’re going to finish it.”
Epilogue
After a few months of dating, the couple is celebrating at a place that has become their new favorite restaurant.
The small, quaint place, with a bed and breakfast upstairs had absolutely the best food. It was run by an older Italian couple, who always seemed to be making their rounds through the dining hall, ensuring that the quality they expected was the quality that was received.
The staff was nice too, as it was mostly comprised of the couple’s family.
The couple had found this place randomly one evening, only a little while after returning home from their mountainous ordeal.
While things were good, being that they were now in the real world with one another, there was a little bit of a strain, with Johnathan rehabilitating himself.
Johnathan spoke very little and seemed almost amazed at what he saw. What he did say, consisted of how much everything had changed, along with cheap shots about how the world had gone on fine without him.
Carrie had learned to ignore these comments, since Johnathan seemed to only say them to get them out of his head, not because he believed there was any merit behind them.
Yet, on this night, they were frustrated and hungry. Johnathan hadn’t done well in an interview and was genuinely thinking that he might have made a mistake.
Carrie was trying to convince him otherwise when she saw this restaurant and pulled inside, announcing that they were going to stop this conversation until after they both had eaten.
Upon going inside, they found that the restaurant was bustling, yet everyone they encountered seemed to be happy to see them.
The owner seated them, though they didn’t know that at the time. He gave them a quiet, private, intimate table, away from the family-sized parties that were taking up most of the dining hall. The owner had told them that he thought they needed to add a little romance in their life and this table was the perfect remedy. He claimed that it was where he and his wife sat when we wanted to get away from the world and re-focus on one another.
As he walked away, Carrie and Johnathan thought this was strange, but intriguing. Johnathan insisted that he must have heard them bickering but agreed that it was a nice thought, just the same.
Unintentionally, the couple had taken the man’s advice and ended up talking about everything but the issue at hand.
They enjoyed a wonderful meal, amid gorgeous Italian artwork, while eating under an awning, giving the illusion that they were eating outside of an Italian café.
On the table between them, there was a small candle and checkered tablecloth that reminded Carrie of Lady and the Tramp. She mentioned this to Johnathan who found it amusing as well, citing more their personalities, and asked if they should split a pasta dish.
After dinner that night, as they were walking out of the restaurant, Johnathan’s new cellphone rang. He answered it only after complaining about instantly being so connected, but immediately changed his expression after speaking to the person who was calling him.
It ended up that Johnathan was hired for a position at a local bank. It was close to the apartment and a great opportunity. He was asked to start the following Monday.
After he got off the phone, his mood completely changed, he looked back at the restaurant and wondered aloud if there was something to that table after all.
Ever since that night, the couple had eaten at that restaurant at least twice a month, sitting at the same table and taking the older man’s advice to forget everything else and focus on one another.
On this night, the couple was celebrating. Johnathan and Carrie had officially taken the dive and gotten their own place together.
Since returning to civilization, Johnathan had gotten a job where he was doing extremely well, and Carrie was thriving in her school.
Initially, the couple had moved in with Kasandra, who thought it was weird that Carrie brought a boyfriend home from the mountains but couldn’t help being impressed.
She and Johnathan got along well, except for the fact that Kasandra seemed to make it her life’s mission to make Johnathan not only like people again but become an extravert. She insisted that the two come out with her, wherever she went and tried to get them to have new experiences, which was fun.
Carrie felt safe, knowing that she had Johnathan by her side, but eventually, their happy home got a little too cramped when Kasandra announced that she too had a boyfriend who was moving in.
Carrie wondered if she had done this on purpose, but she decided it didn’t really matter, since it was time for the couples to go their separate ways anyway.
“I can’t believe we actually did it!” Carrie expressed, placing her menu down on the table. “This is the first time I’ve lived with a boyfriend, since…Well, you know.”
Johnathan snickered, “Carrie, we’ve lived together for almost six months now.”
“Yes,” Carrie insisted, but continued with insinuation in her voice, “We’ve lived together, but it’s different living…alone, together.”
“I know,” he admitted, “I’m just teasing you.”
“Plus, with your promotion, things are really starting to turn in our favor,” she exclaimed, her shoulders rising with excitement.
Johnathan, watched her carefully, as he tried to hide the fact that his leg was bouncing up and down with nervousness.
He truly couldn’t believe how lucky he was and how happy he had become.
Ever since returning to civilization, he had completely transformed his life. His existence was never this easy, or this much fun, even when he and his ex were at their best.
He grinned as his heart swelled with excitement.
He had thought about this a lot in the past few months and although he was ready to take the next step, his heart was beating ferociously in his chest.
He knew he had to wait until the right moment, but he was bursting at the seams.
Part of him wanted to ensure everything was perfect while part of him couldn’t wait to get it over with.
“And with a paralegal in the family, you’re going to be able to help people and help us react our own goals.”
Carrie blushed, “Graduation is still some ways off…”
“It’s only a few months and besides, you killed it last semester. You’re going to be amazing this semester too,” Johnathan grinned with encouragement. “I know you would be the only one I would trust with my case if I ever needed it.”
“I’m kind of the only person you trust period, so is that really a compliment?” Carrie retorted playfully.
Johnathan scoffed playfully, “Of course it is! And besides, I’ve gotten a lot better. I kind of like Kasandra…She’s growing on me…”
Carrie laughed at Johnathan’s face of confusion.
“Kind of,” he reiterated.
“Yeah, she has that effect on everyone. Don’t judge the whole world by her or you won’t really fully like anyone.”
Johnathan chuckled, “I guess there is such a thing as being too honest?”
“Yes, yes there is, and Kasandra doesn’t care who you are, she has no filter…But her heart is in the right place.”
“Do you think her, and her boyfriend are going to be together for long
?”
“No,” Carrie replied, almost immediately, “Honestly, I think she did this so that we would find a place of our own.”
“She’s tired of us already?”
Carrie shook her head, “I don’t think that’s it. She wants us to have our own experience and she is not an enabler.”
“So, she decided it was time for us to take the plunge?” Johnathan insisted, “I’m so glad that Kassandra plays such an active role in our life.” He rolled his eyes, playfully aggravated at the thought.
“Actually, she wanted me to do it. Remember how I told you the only love Kassandra knows is tough love? Well, this is a great example of it. She knows how I feel about living alone with you…And so, she forced my hand.”
Despite his complaining, Johnathan was pleased by her friend’s urging, since they were both shy when it came to such decisions.
Although, Johnathan was concerned about the true motive behind the decision. If he was going to go through with what he had planned for the night, he needed to make sure that Carrie was in the same headspace as he was. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
“Carrie, you are okay with all of this, right?” Johnathan insisted, putting his hand over hers and catching her eye meaningfully.
“Yes, of course!” She exclaimed, immediately, “Just because I think Kas had alternative motives to moving her flavor of the week into the apartment, doesn’t mean I’m not grateful.” Carrie grinned, moving close to Johnathan, keeping an even continuous stare, to prove she was serious. “Johnathan, I love you and I cannot wait to start our life, without anyone else. I promise. I don’t want to live anywhere, but with you and I am excited to be moving in with you…and only you. I have no doubt this is the right move for us.”